Then Burnley, in the same division as now but dropping into a relegation fight in the 1982-83 season, turned the tables on a star-studded Spurs, who included the likes of Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles in their ranks, dumping them out at the quarter-final stage 4-1 at White Hart Lane.

Tuesday night saw that scoreline reversed, and although the second leg is still to come at Turf Moor, as Owen Coyle has put it, Burnley have left themselves with a mountain to climb if they are to reach Wembley.

Back in 1983 the Clarets had been hammered in the first half but went goal crazy in the second thanks to a Billy Hamilton brace and a couple of own goals from Graham Roberts. This week it was Spurs' turn to reverse that pattern, Michael Duff filling Roberts' role as own goal scorer.

What Harry Redknapp said to his time at half time I don't know, but coupled with a key substitution, replacing the ineffectual David Bentley with Jamie O'Hara, we have to take our hat off to him as O'Hara had a hand in three of the goals.

The Clarets were lacking suspended skipper Steve Caldwell and their first half flow was disrupted by Joey Gudjonsson's injury. They still dominated that first half, a glimpse, complete with a flying Chris Eagles, of what they can do. They aren't struggling like the class of '83.

Let's tighten up and win at Turf Moor - remember the '83 semi? Burnley had lost 3-0 at Anfield (with Derek Scott missing two gilt edged chances), too big a deficit to make up, but they gave Liverpool a real fright in winning the second leg at Turf Moor 1-0 (Scott scored this time, and there were chances for more).

ALONG with many Burnley supporters I was saddened to hear of the death of former skipper Ray Deakin, aged 49, just before Christmas.

He was captain of the side on what may well have been the most important day of the club's history, the Orient game in May 1987, where Burnley needed (and got) victory to save their place in the Football League.

A year later he must have been a proud man to lead out his side at Wembley when Burnley and Wolves chalked up what must easily be the biggest gate for a match between two bottom division sides, an 80,000 plus crowd for the 1988 Sherpa Van Trophy final.

Along with manager Brian Miller, Ray's role in drawing together the rag-tag team that represented the penniless club in 1986-87 must have been crucial. Alongside the experience of Leighton James, Ian Britton and Neil Grewcock, there were very raw kids like Phil Devaney and Peter Leebrook charged with effectively saving the club. It was the tallest of orders.

Deakin led from the front as best he could that season, and for several beyond. Thanks for all you did Ray.